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The ensemble, with more than 40 actors, singers, acrobats and light, sound and pyrotechnic technicians, views its dramatic language and form of expression as being related to traditional large-scale outdoor productions of France and Spain; but has developed a style all its own.
History of origins In 1982 PAN.OPTIKUM is founded in Berlin by the two performance artists Nesa Gschwend and Frank Niemöller. The focus in the initial phase in on walk acts in public venues and performances with objects. After a long stay in Indonesia the first smaller urban productions are created. In Europe, at about this same time period, groupings such as Royal de Luxe in France or La Fura dels Baus in Spain are started. Theatre takes over public spaces.
Sigrun Fritsch and Ralf Buron, who joined the group at the end of the 80s and are still the ensemble’s artistic directors today, have always placed the artistic focus of the ensemble on the connections between architecture and the performing arts as well as on cross-genre works.
The ideas of Bauhaus etc. by Oskar Schlemmer from the 20s had an impact on the concept approach and aesthetics. Larger urban performances are put on in Berlin, e.g. on the theme of Max Ernst, and PAN.OPTIKUM receives international acclaim for the first time.
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